IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS

摘要

The invention assists in providing information about the identity or source of a DNA sample, particularly information about a physical characteristic of the source of the DNA sample. The invention provides a method of obtaining information about a persons hair colour and/or other pigmentation characteristics, the person being the source of a DNA containing sample, the method comprising determining one or more locations in a DNA sequence at which variations potentially occur and considering the identity of one or more of those variations, one or more of those variations being implicated in contributing to a persons hair colour and/or other pigmentation characteristics; analysing the sample, the analysis involving considering the identity of any variation at one or more of the locations at which variations potentially occur; providing information about the hair colour and/or other pigmentation characteristics of the person from who the sample arose based on the results of the analysis of the one or more potential variation locations, preferably with the information being used to assist in the tracing of the person who is the source of the sample.